FIFTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 707 



strike each part of the interior of tlie house at some time during the 

 day; and the pens should be well sunned, especially in the farrowing 

 months of February, March and April. The forenoon sun has unusual 

 value, coming as it does immediately after a relatively long, dark, and 

 ofttimes cool and damp night, so weakening to young and suckling pigs. 

 In the hot summer months some shade should be provided to ward off 

 the direct sun. 



4. Shade: The hog actually suffers more from the heat of summer 

 than he does from the cold of winter; he should be protected from both. 

 Feed is wasted in overcoming both extreme cold and severe heat. High 

 temperature dulls the appetite so essential for profitable pork produc- 

 tion. Hogs ofttimes die under the direct rays of the summer sun. 



5. Ventilation: The hog demands an abundance of fresh, pure air; 

 this may be easily provided without subjecting him to injurious drafts. 

 Summer coolness is dependent largely on good ventilation. The hog 

 suffers much in a closely confined, ill ventilated place because he is a 

 productive animal that usually works at "top-speed"; especially is this 

 true when fattening, hence he needs an abundance of untainted oxygen 

 for his bodily functions. 



6. Sanitfition: To clean and disinfect a hog house thoroughly is 

 often imperative; the building should be free from inaccessible cracks 

 and openings to permit this. Smooth walls and floors without crevices 

 are to be emphasized. Crevices harbor filth, which encourages disease; 

 bacteria that cause hog cholera, contagious sore mouth, white scours, 

 and other troubles; and parasites, such as lice, worms, and mange. 

 Masonry construction offers superior sanitary advantages. Freedom from 

 dust is absolutely necessary for successful sanitation. Dust encourages 

 pulmonary afflictions, manifested by coughing, wheezing, sneezing, gen- 

 eral lassitude, and discomfiture. Dust predisposes to pneumonia, so 

 often fatal. Dust is likely to further worm infection of the lungs and 

 alimentary tract, an avoidable bugbear of swine husbandry. The regular 

 removal of litter and manure is encouraged and made easy by roof doors 

 and gable windows in small hog houses. The more easily one can clean 

 the house the more likely it is to be clean. Bear in mind that the hog 

 is more liable than all other domestic animals to gather disease infection 

 from unsanitary surroundings; he is so anatomically constructed that 

 he always breathes, eats, and drinks close to the ground where infection 

 abounds. 



7. Safety and comfort: High doorsills frequently cause abortion. 

 Rough, uneven floors cause much discomfort, particularly to the pregnant 

 sow. Slippery floors result in many accidents. Narrow or low doorways 

 through which swine must squeeze or crawl, are objectionable. Fenders 

 that save the lives of suckling pigs are quite indispensable. 



8. Convenience : House details may be arranged to lessen the time 

 and labor required to care for the swine herd. What is considered as 

 one man's convenience, however, may be an inconvenience for his neigh- 

 bor. Yet the following suggestive features are all more or less valuable 

 in hog house building: 



